Dictating machine switch



April 9, 1940. 1 HQ BEARD El AL DICTATING MACHINE SWITCH Original Filed June 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTORS 3 Theodore If. Beard agohn E. Renholzii' film 61m 41% ATTO R N EYS m 1940. T. H. BEARD 'Er AL 2,196,720

DICTATING MACHINE SWITCH Original Filed Juno,24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Theodore H. Beard John E. Rem/2010 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DICTATING MACHINE SWITCH York Original application June 24, 1933, Serial No. 677,447, now Patent No. 2,071,278. Divided and this application January 16, 1937, Serial No.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in. dietating machines and more particularly to the motor circuit control mechanism.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 677,447, filed June 24, 1933, now Patent No. 2,071,278.

One of the objects is to provide a more convenient and efficient switch operating mechanism. Another object is to provide a simple and practical arrangement of such mechanism in relation to a dictating machine having the usually exposed operating parts covered by a hood, Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of our invention:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a covered dictating machine embodying the present invention, viewed from the left-hand corner;

Fig. 2 is a left end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the left end of the box-like sub-base taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the mouthpiece support and motor circuit switch, the operation of which it controls;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the construction of a part of the switch operating mechanlsm.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a dictating machine is shown comprising a base plate I2 hinged upon and supported by a box-like sub-base 5 adapted to enclose certain parts of the machine, some of which may be supported upon the box itself while others depend from the under side of the base plate. This is the usual construction of a well known type of dictating machine.

Rising from the left end of the base plate I2 is a left-hand standard I3, and from the right end of the base plate rises a right-hand standard I4. A housing I5 formed on the left end of the base plate adjacent the standard I3 provides a suitable bearing for amandrel shaft I6 which supports a mandrel I! at its right or outer end. Upon this mandrel a record cylinder may be mounted. A sound-box carriage 2| is mounted for travel longitudinally of the mandrel upon carriage rods, not shown, but which are supported at their ends in the standards I3 and I4.

Extending forwardly from the carriage 2| is the usual speaking tube 51 having at its outer end a mouthpiece and handle 56.

As is usual with dictating machines of the type described, as a preliminary to setting the machine in operation for recording or reproducing dictation it is customary for the operator to remove the mouthpiece from its hook. It has been customary, too, in machines of this type, pivotally to mount the hook upon the left-hand standard of the machine, letting it project upwardly and forwardly to a position in front of and above the housing for the mandrel shaft. This hook was then connected by means of suitable linkage with a switch in the motor circuit so arranged that when the mouthpiece was removed from the hook the switch in the motor circuit was closed, thus energizing the motor. Conversely, when the mouthpiece was restored to the hook the motor circuit switch was opened and the machine brought to a standstill. While this mode of operation is very desirable, it has been found that the position of the hook as heretofore arranged is both awkward and unsightly.

A feature of importance of the present dictating machine is the provision of a novel mechanism for operating a switch in the motor circuit connected asheretofore with a support for the mouthpiece of the speaking tube, but as shown herein it has been found possible and advisable to mount the mouthpiece support at the left end of the box-like sub-base of the machine, pivoting it so that it will lie in substantially a hori- I zontal position for receiving the mouthpiece in a horizontal position instead of in the vertical position as heretofore. This new support is advantageous in that it is easily accessible, does not obstruct the front of the machine, and its location is such that the mouthpiece is unlikely to be accidentally displaced from its support.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that a bracket I05 is secured by means of bolts I06 to the inner surface of the left end I0'I (as seen in Fig. 1) of the sub-base 5. i

This bracket comprises an upper horizontal arm I08, a horizontal inwardly extending portion I09 and a downwardly extending portion H5. As shown herein the portion H3 of the bracket supports a switch I i I which need not be described further than to say that it is provided with a movable plunger portion H2 which in the position shown in Fig. 3 provides for the engagement of cooperating electrical contacts within the switch so as to close-circuit the switch. This plunger is operated by means of a toggle lever comprising a pair of members H3 and Hi. The toggle lever IE3 is pivotally mounted at H5 upon the arm MB of the bracket. The lever I pivotally mounted by means of a screw HG on the lower end of lever N3, the screw passing through a slot H": in said lever Hi. This lever H 1 also has a pin-and-slot connection with the plunger H2. At its upper end the lever ii '3 is provided with an angular cam surface Hi3 having a high point between its angulated sides. This cam surface engages a cam roller H9 rotatably supported upon the lever H3.

A tension spring I20 extends between 9. lug l2l on lever II 3 and a lug I22 on lever H4. Should lever H3 be swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 about its pivot in a counter-clockwise direction, the roller H9 would ride up the side of the cam I I8 with which it is shown in contact, depressing the lever I I4 against the tension of the spring 528. After the roller H9 has passed the high point of the cam the spring will cause it rapidly to ride down the opposing cam surface. This will cause the toggle levers to pass from a straight line position to an angulated position opposite to that disclosed in Fig. 4. Such action will very rapidly snap the switch plunger outwardly from the position occupied by it in Fig. 3, thus providing a very quick break of the contact points Within.

The lever H3 which provides this quick throw of the switch IN is actuated to close the switch contacts when the mouthpiece is removed from its support I23. In Fig. l the support is shown in its horizontal position with the mouthpiece lying thereon. In this position, as said above, the switch contacts are open. Fig. 2 shows the support I23 in the position it assumes when the mouthpiece has been removed therefrom. In this position of the support the switch contacts in the motor circuit are closed and energy is supplied to the motor. Support I23 comprises a pair of spaced upwardly curved supporting arms E24 and I25. Support I2 receives the mouthpiece of the speaking tube about centrally of its length or at about the crook in the mouthpiece while the support I25 receives the flexible speaking tube at a point adjacent its connection with the mouthpiece handle. Thus the speaking tube is well balanced upon the support and securely rests thereon, there being little tendency for it to be removed accidentally.

Support |23 further comprises an offset downwardly extending plate-like part I26 pivoted at I2! and provided with a slot I28 adapted to receive a shoulder screw I29. Screw I29 is rigidly secured to the end of the sub-base by means of inner and outer nuts I33 and I3I, and this bolt provides a spacing shoulder I32 for giving the plate I26 lateral support. The movement of the support I23 is limited in its two directions by contact of the screw 29 with the ends of slot I28. The plate I26 of the support I23 is rigidly secured to a short arbor I33 (see Figs. 5 and 6) which is rigidly secured at its inner end to an arm I34 which may be made integrally therewith. This arbor I33 passes rotatably through a passage in a hollow bolt I 35 which is formed at its I3 is outer end with an enlarged head I36 and is threaded to receive a nut I 31. The shank of the bolt I35 passes through a suitable opening in the end of the motor box and is held rigidly with respect to the motor box by means of the nut I31 and a pair of collars I38 and I39 which engage opposite sides of the said end wall of the boxlike sub-base.

The outer end of the arbor I33 is bored and threaded to receive a machine screw I40 the head of which bears against the outer side of the plate portion I26 of the support I 23. The said plate portion is provided with a rectangular opening adapted to fit over a squared portion I4I provided at the extreme outer end of arbor I33. Of course the said plate portion is not rotatable with respect to the arbor I33 so that the said plate portion and the arm I34 are rigidly connected to rotate together upon movement of the support I23 from its horizontal to its raised position. At its upper end arm I34 is pivotally connected as at I42 (Figs. 3 and 4) with one end of a link I43, the other end of which is pivotally connected as at I44 to the upper toggle lever H3. I45 is a tension spring one end of which hooks into a perforation at I48 in the lever I43 and the other end of which hooks into a perforation I41 provided in 2. lug I43 extending outwardly from the periphery of washer I38. This spring acts upon the parts in such a way that the mouthpiece support 0 above the base plate I2, makes it conveniently possible to cover all of the external working parts of the machine such as the mandrel I1 and carriage H with a suitable hood indicated herein by the numeral I63]. It will be noted, therefore, that not only does the present invention provide a mouthpiece support and switch actuating memher more conveniently located for operation, but also for providing a cover for the machine in close association with the parts covered and without awkward and ungainly portions extending beyond the base plate of the machine.

It will be seen, therefore, that the present invention provides a construction of an essentially practical nature in which the several objects are attained.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a dictating machine, in combination, a. switching lever movable from an open to a closed position against the reaction of a spring, an electric switch having a movable member, a link and lever system interposed between and operatively connecting the switching lever and said movable member, said system comprising two links one of which is connected with the other and with said movable switch member by pin and slot connections so that the same is oscillatable and longitudinally shiftable in the link and lever system, said one link also providing an angular cam surface having a high point between its angulated which is slidably and oscillatably connected to be longitudinally shiftable and oscillatable in the link and lever system, a cam at an end of one of said links having a high point between adjacent surfaces, cam surfacelco'ntacting means on the other of said links, and a spring for holding said contacting means against said cam.

THEODORE H. BEARD. JOHN E. RENHOLDT. 

